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Alarm over Syria archaeological treasures

(Beirut Daily Star) BEIRUT: Syria’s yearlong revolt has exposed to looting and destruction the country’s archaeological treasures, experts warn, including the ancient city of Palmyra and the Greco-Roman ruins of Apamea.

Most vulnerable are strife-torn areas that have fallen outside the full control of the regime, they say, where looters have already targeted museums, excavation sites and monuments.

“In the past three to four months there has been a lot of looting,” said Hiba al-Sakhel, director of museums in Syria. “In Apamea, we have a video showing looters removing mosaics with drills. And in Palmyra there is a lot of looting and clandestine digging.”